Main Topics Discussed

BOS Four Year Transportation Plan (FYP)

Michael Guarino, FCDOT, gave a presentation of the current status of the
Board’s Four Year Plan. The first Four-Year plan began in February
2004 and ran through FY 2008. The third Four-Year Plan began with
FY 2013 and will continue through FY 2016. The plan includes
information on transportation projects by multiple agencies and levels of
government. Cost-benefit analysis was used as one of many factors
for project selection.

The Board’s transportation priorities over the four-year period are: to
enhance mobility, promote and increase safety, and to expand choices for
the commuting public. The many multi-modal projects are intended to
add capacity to already existing infrastructure thereby reducing
congestion, to connect missing sidewalk and bicycle trails thereby
improving connectivity, and to provide augmented safe access to transit
facilities. Fairfax County Government and several public agencies
are responsible for management and outcomes including VDOT, MWAA, and
FCPA.

Chosen projects are funded from a $937 million budget which includes
$237 million in Federal Regional Surface Transportation Program and
Congestion Mitigation and Air quality funds which are expected through
2016. An additional $245 million come from existing and proposed
County General Obligation and revenue Bonds. $262 million is
anticipated from County Commercial and Industrial Tax revenues and $193
million in other Federal and private sources.

Projects are chosen in coordination with the Board of Supervisors and
FCDOT staff. The final list of projects is approved by the Board of
Supervisors. Status reports are due twice yearly in June and
December. Reports include a summary of FCDOT activities since the
last report and include input from VDOT. A status report is given
on each active project, those in the current Four-Year program, rollover
projects from previous Four-Year programs as well as other County funded
projects.

The biannual report is available on the web and contains project status
reports organized by rout number, legend as well as general information
and search tips. FCDOT staff will attempt to export GIS layer of
projects as PDF, perhaps by dividing up the County into quadrants to
facilitate legibility. A web based map available to the public is
currently in development. Each Commission member was provided a
copy of the June 2013 Status Report of Third Four-Year Transportation
Program.

Commissioner Cohn asked about using the FYP as a project management
tool. Mr. Guarino responded that FYP is a planning document. Mr.
Wigglesworth, in response to a question, stated that the NVTA would issue
bonds for local projects, so there would be no effect on Fairfax County’s
bond limit.

TAC Achievement Award

The subcommittee recommended that Kenneth Moreland, FCDOT, for the TAC
Transportation Achievement Award. The TAC accepted the
recommendation and will present the award to Mr. Moreland at a future
Board meeting.

Other Business

Anna Pimley stated that only 39 taxis are capable of handling passengers
with special needs. This is insufficient. The TAC asked to be
included in future discussions with Consumer Affairs regarding taxi
regulation.

At 8 pm the members of the extended TAC joined the meeting in progress
and Tom Biesiadny, Director of FCDOT, presented the continuing dialogue
on transportation project selection.

In light of the General Assembly’s action in the last session which
provided additional revenue sources for transportation funding, the
purpose of reconvening the extended TAC is to seek advice on how best to
engage the public in an outreach effort during the fall of 2014 to select
high-priority projects for funding and solicit public comment on a
six-year funding plan for FY 2014-2020.

The anticipated increase in State funding for transportation projects as
a result of HB2313 will likely provide an additional $912 million through
FY2020. Each of the new funding sources has its own set of
requirements and revenue committed to projects in the Board’s current
Four-Year plan is not included in this effort. Highlights of the
types of requirements and guidelines were presented. Estimates of
revenue from each of the State’s newly enacted revenue sources as well as
existing State and local funds is presented to reach the $912 million
total were outlined. Even with new revenues, it is estimated that
$70 million is still needed.

Bond validation suit went to court for validation to ensure
constitutionality of authorizing legislation. Other funding sources
for FYP include CMAQ and RSTP until FY2019 as well as 2014 transportation
bond referendum.

A cost benefit analysis (CBA) is to be used as a systematic approach for
comparing among competing projects. The cost benefit calculus was
explained in some detail. Benefits incorporated in the CBA for
highways and transit included user travel time savings, user vehicle
operating cost savings and emissions reductions. A more qualitative
evaluation is to be used for bicycle and pedestrian projects.
Commissioners were concerned how highway and transit projects would be
evaluated in a mix with bicycle and pedestrian projects. It was
explained that the two would be evaluated separately.

FCDOT will seek more feedback from the public on priorities now that
funding is available for projects. The public is to be
engaged in the process through a series of outreach meetings.
There, suggested projects will be vetted by the public and results used
as part of the valuation process in the CBA. The extended TAC is
invited to participate in the planning and execution of the public
outreach process. A TAC working session was decided on for
September 10, 2013 to begin this process. FCDOT intends to present
BOS with intended list of projects at September 17, 2013 meeting.

Commissioner Pimley asked whether the HB 2313 funds allocated for
localities can be used for maintenance or not. Mr. Biesiadny
replied “Yes”. Commissioner Tennyson asked about the shovel-ready
projects eligible under HB 2313. Mr. Biesiadny replied “Yes, but
funding is also being used for design.”

Commissioner Hoskin raised a question about revenue shortfall for
projects. Mr. Biesiadny stated that “the inflation built into
the projections should compensate.”

Regarding cost-benefit analysis, only projects within the same
transportation mode will be compared (i.e., NOT pedestrian project vs.
roadway project). Commissioner Tennyson stated that “travel time
savings” should not be included in CBA because it is not an economic
factor. Commissioner Himmel disagreed. Mr. Diedrich
questioned use of the cost-benefit analysis criteria at NVTA relating to
HB 3213.

Commissioner Cohn asked in regarding to public input that FCDOT was
looking for prioritization only or agreement to move forward with these
projects. Mr. Biesiadny said “both”.

Mr. Young asked a question about trails and pedestrian
accessibility. Mr. Biesiadny indicated that about $5 million under
the federal Transportation Alternatives account would be available to
fund pedestrian/bike projects.

Commissioner Thiel suggested having the list of projects available on
the web sortable by multiple columns. Commissioner Madden asked about
whether presentations will be made to specific target groups. Mr.
Davis suggested using the TDM contact lists to spread the words to the
public. Commissioner Thiel suggested improving Fairfax County
website to advertise outreach for public input.

Mr. Caplin asked about the overlap between Table 7 Tysons projects and
the FYP. The response was that all Table 7 projects are shown
as funded, but not prioritized. The feedback on Table 7 projects will not
be of the yes/no variety but, rather, for prioritization only.

Mr. Young asked about safety improvements for bikes and pedestrians and
why uses CBA for prospective projects, but not for existing projects at
Tysons?

Commissioner Cohn suggested ensuring that future meetings acknowledge
input of citizens from last round of meetings.

Topics for Future Meetings:

September 17, 2012: Momentum: The Next Generation of Metro and
the projected loading statistics for the Dulles Metrorail Silver Line -
Shyam Kannan and Gregory Potts (WMATA)

CTB Determination of Corridor of Statewide Importance through
Loudoun/Prince William Counties

Comprehensive Plan staff and Planning Commission discussions with TAC
on what their vision is for future development and any changes in
planning and zoning guidelines that may be needed to account for future
work environment given the pace and impacts of technology advances
(including guest speaker to explain impact of self-driving/smart cars,
buses and trucks on traffic, roadways and intersections).